Privacy Part I: Free Privacy Tools for Windows
This is the first of a series of posts concerning computer privacy. Part 1 will deal with Windows privacy, more specifically Windows XP (although just about all the software will also run on Vista). Why XP? I haven’t bothered installing Vista on my machines, and I don’t have any intention of doing it anytime soon. I only want to recommend products that I have personally tried. A Linu
Many times when you see a list of software on the internet, it seems like the author just stocks it full of crap in order to have more items. I suppose certain social bookmarking sites prefer a list of 500,000 free but not very good tools to a short list of items that the author has actually tried out. All the items below are freeware. Most are open source (If you value your privacy, you should understand why that’s important). I have personally used all of them at one point or another and would recommend them all. In other posts I will examine the why and how of computer security, but let’s just jump right to the good stuff, the software and webtools you’ll need. Without further ado….
Free Windows Privacy Tools
Antispyware:
AdAware
- About - (Vista version is not out until August 2007)
Hijack This
Spybot S&D
Spyware Blaster
Antivirus:
AntiVir
Browser:
Firefox
Browser Extensions:
AdBlock Plus
AdBlock Filterset.G Updater
- About - “This is a companion extension to Adblock or Adblock Plus and should be used in conjunction with it. This extension automatically downloads the latest version of Filterset.G every 4-7 days. Filterset.G is an excellent set of filters maintained by G for Adblock that blocks most ads on the internet.”
BugMeNot
- About - “Bypass compulsory web registration via Firefox’s right-click context menu.”
Cookieculler Extension
- About - “CookieCuller is modified version of the Cookie Manager built into the Firefox/Mozilla browser”
FoxyProxy
- About - “FoxyProxy is an advanced proxy management tool that completely replaces Firefox’s proxy configuration.”
Compression:
7-Zip
Disk Cleaning:
CCleaner (Slim, no Yahoo Toolbar)
E-Mail:
E-Mail Client
Throwaway email
Thunderbird Extension
- Enigmail
- About - “OpenPGP message encryption and authentication for Thunderbird”
Firewall:
Zone Alarm
Hard Drive Encryption:
Truecrypt
Host File & Other IP Blockers:
Bluetack Internet Security Solutions (Closed Source)
- Host File Manager
Phoenix Labs Peer Guardian
IM:
Pidgin
- About - “Pidgin is an instant messaging program for Windows, Linux, BSD, and other Unixes. You can talk to your friends using AIM, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, and Zephyr.”
Pidgin Encrypt Plugin
Web Proxy:
Proxy Lists
Privoxy
- About - “Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy, modifying web page data, managing cookies, controlling access, and removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a very flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. Privoxy has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user networks.”
Web Search-Engine Proxy:
BlackBoxSearch
- About - Supports Google, MSN, & Yahoo Search, this uses a proxy to search these services so the queries are not traceable back to you.
Ever missed your favorite TV show, didn’t have access to TV, or been bored at work (don’t do this at work, I’m joking…kind of)? Of course you have. I’ll show you how to watch TV over the internet using either Windows or 